Furcation Index
Pronunciation: fur-KAY-shun IN-deks
A grading system that classifies the extent of bone loss in the area where the roots of a multi-rooted tooth divide, used to guide treatment planning.
Full Definition
The furcation index, most commonly Hamp's classification or the Glickman classification, grades bone loss in the furcation area of multi-rooted teeth on a scale (typically Grade I through III or IV). Grade I indicates early, horizontal bone loss of less than one-third of the tooth width; Grade II indicates partial bone loss but a closed apex; Grade III indicates through-and-through bone loss. Dental hygienists document furcation involvement on the periodontal chart and the grade determines whether standard root planing, open flap debridement, or extraction is appropriate. Editors must not confuse the furcation index with the periodontal index or plaque index, which measure different parameters.
Usage
Usage note: Specify the classification system being used (Hamp, Glickman, Lindhe) when editing clinical research documents, as grading scales differ between systems.
In Context
- "The periodontal chart recorded a furcation index of Grade II on the mesial aspect of tooth 36." — Periodontal chart
- "The continuing education manuscript used 'furcation index' and 'furcation involvement' interchangeably—flag this for author clarification." — Copy-editing note